Imitation experience in Scriptures

‘Following and imitating Christ’ series

This is the second of seven blogs intended to help you to follow and imitate Christ. Press this link if you wish to start reading from the first blog.

Since the Christian “is nourished in a healthy way” (Dei Verbum, n. 24) through scriptures, the person following and imitating Christ can nourish one’s understanding on such practice by the experience of the first disciples and of the early Christians.

From the experience of following and imitating Christ in the New Testament, we can elicit five elements. These are:

Authentic practice of imitation is a positive response to Christ’s Call to Follow him (cf. Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21; Mark 1:17; 2:14; 8:34; 10:21; Luke 5:27; 9:23, 59; 18:22; John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 21:19, 22).

It is a response where the individual obeys without any questions. Consequently, authentic imitation can never be considered as a personal initiative to do something.

Authentic practice of imitation bears fruits mainly through an effort to stay with Christ (“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” John 15:4). This is manifested mainly in the style of Jesus’ way of teaching, who was not like the other rabbis who gave theological and moral teachings to their followers, but he taught them more by example (cf. Matthew 10:24-25; 11:29; John 13:15; 14:6; 15:12).

The authentic practice of imitation is always in line with the teachings of Christ as interpreted by the apostolic Church (cf. Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 2:6).

Authentic practice imitation is not exterior conduct but a manifestation of who we are by baptism (cf. Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Authentic practice of imitation could happen through the good example of others and could lead the imitator to be a witness of Christ through one’s own words and deeds (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14; 3:7, 9; Philippians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:16–17; 11:1; Hebrews 6:12; 13:7).